Five Manitoba Bisons Recognized by Canada West

Laura ManningSports

WINNIPEG, MB – The Manitoba Bisons women’s hockey team is well represented this year with five players named to the all-star and all-rookies teams for Canada West.

Bisons Erica Rieder and Jordyn Zacharias named as 2017-18 Canada West Women’s Hockey First Team All-Star while Alanna Sharman selected as Second Team All-Star and Lauren Taraschuk and Lauren Warkentin named to 2017-18 Canada West All-Rookie Team.

Rieder, 21, in her fourth season at Manitoba and had another award winning season in 2017-18 to earn earned her second consecutive conference All-Star selection (2016-17: Second Team; 2014-15: All-Rookie) at the defenceman position. The Winnipeg native was tied for fourth in conference defenceman scoring in 2017-18 with 11 points (seven goals and four assists) while playing in all 28 conference regular season games. Her seven goals were first among Canada West defenceman and tied for ninth overall in conference this season. The 5’9” defenceman registered a plus/minus rating of +13 in 2017-18 and tied for third best in Canada West while being alternate captain for third consecutive season with the Bisons.

Zacharias, 20, earned her first conference All-Star selection in her second season (third year eligibility) at Manitoba at forward. In the 2017-18 Canada West season, the Winnipeg native was top Bison and third overall in Canada West conference women’s hockey scoring with 21 points (12 goals, nine assists) and tied for first in CW with 12 goals while playing in all 28 conference regular season games. The 5’5” forward also was tied for fist with five game-winning goals in her best statistical season with the Herd. Zacharias finished the 2017-18 conference regular season with points in last four games and five multi-point games plus tied for tenth with +10 plus/minus rating.

Sharman, 21, earned her first conference All-Star selection in her fourth season at Manitoba (2014-15: All-Rookie) at forward position. The 5’8” forward finished fourth in Canada West scoring with 20 points (3g, 17a) while playing in all 28 conference regular season games. The Winnipeg native was second in CW assists at 17 and first with conference power play assists with nine in 2017-18. Sharman finished the 2017-18 conference regular season with points in last four games and five multi-point games plus tied for 16th with +8 plus/minus rating. She was an alternate captain for second straight season.

Taraschuk, 18, was named to the Canada West All-Rookie Team at goaltender position. In the 2017-18 conference season, the Winnipeg native was first in Canada West Goals Against Average with a 0.71 and also second in conference Save Percentage at .961 while sporting a 10-2-0 record and tied for fourth most conference wins at 10 while playing in 12 of 28 conference regular season games in 2017-18. The 6’0” goaltender was also tied for fourth with five shutouts in Canada West play and had a five game conference winning streak (Oct. 27/17-Nov. 42517).

Warkentin, 18, was named to the Canada West All-Rookie Team at defenceman position. The Steinbach, MB native finished fourth in Canada West rookie scoring with eight points (one goal and seven assists) while playing in all 28 conference regular season games. Warkentin was first for the most assists (7) scored by a rookie in 2017-18. In addition, the 5’8” defenceman had three multi-point games and sixth for rookies with 46 shots in her first season at Manitoba.

“Erica, Jordyn and Alanna are all big reasons why our team has had the success it has had this season. All three players are deserving of this recognition as they were our most consistent performers from day one this year, “ Bison women’s hockey head coach Jon Rempel commented. “Both Laurens had immediate impacts in our lineup this season and were a part of a very good group of first year and also transfer players that brought added depth and talent our lineup. Both players have had stellar years in the transition from Midget level to U SPORTS hockey and are to be congratulated on their accomplishments.”

With files from Chris Zuk of the Manitoba Bisons

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